Where to begin.....

This has been a long week and one with many ups and downs....some of which I will share and some I choose not to.. Last Saturday was my first group ride since getting my cast off and I was giddy like a little kid on the 1st day of school....I woke up before my alarm and was sitting at my computer ready to ride 20 minutes early....after walking the dogs, eating breakfast, pumping my tires etc... So I took off early and took the long way to our meeting spot.

It was s glorious day with the sun shining and I as thrilled to see the girls.... off we went and the chatter was non stop. About 45 minutes into the ride we rolled through a lot of glass and L's sidewall was torn... 3 tubes later, a GU packet for protection and a few CO2's we were rolling.  35+ minute stop- no land speed record for changing the tire but I was not remotely stressed....just happy to be riding. 

As we headed out through San Pasqual and it was beautiful.... ideal Ironman riding, all aero and rolling hills. At the base of a long climb A went down....and down hard with N on top of her. It was all a blur but I can tell you I saw my dear friend turning white going into shock and when she said her shoulder hurt we unzipped her jersey to see her collar bone poking up- not thought the skin but not remotely normal. So I went into automation mode and called 911....before the designated paramedics came the Ramona Paramedics came along and were amazing... with a lot of pain she was on the board and off to the hospital with her husband.  Thankfully JD was home and in bed and he was soon on his way to the rescue.... 1:20 minutes later- police reports, traffic reports, CHP etc....at one point there was an ambulance and 5 cop cars to deal with us.  L and I decided that we wanted to/needed to keep riding - eventually we resumed the ride and just as L said "J I am nervous, bad things happened in 3's, her tire blew and we knew that was it- not enough GU wrappers could save us. But lucky for us McGiver John was riding to meet us and he carries an extra tire....another 20 minutes and we have a new tire and we are off.  After a bike shop stop (we used all our tubes and CO2 collectively) and more fuel we were off.....7.5 hours later we finished our 4 hour ride.   But I was happy to be riding and am still aching for A's broken collar bone (which required surgery) + 4 fractured ribs.... Speed recovery my friend!

Sunday was a total blast.... my adoring teenagers got up at 5am (really 4am due to Daylight Savings) and came with me to volunteer at the aid station for the SD 1/2 Marathon-  I was suppose to be running but well that is not feasible so I volunteered. It was a day..... gallons of spilled Ultima, laughing until we were crying, good will shopping, Starbucks and more.... a simple day with treasured memories created. 

And from there it was one thing after another....sometimes life throws a lot at you and you just have to cope and roll on.  Injury, tragedy and just plan drama is a lot to take in one week!

3  good friends are moving....huge bummer!   M leaves next week and C and J in the summer- wow.... big changes for them all....but so sad to have them leaving SD.

John's last day at his old job was Friday....big move for him and to a small start up- so we celebrated with a get together at the house.... nice to hear so many funny Braman stories.  He will be missed,

As for the leg..... well I am NOT running YET...hopefully soon.   Doing some great rehab at Rehab United - they really get it.  This not your 30 min of ankle rotation and ice and stim. This is working hard at building the strength back, adding strength to the supporting muscles, dynamic stretching and working the joint that is locked up - my first session I seriously bonked - did not prepare for a full hour + workout.  Getting stronger each time and really hope to be be running in the next 2 weeks.  

So for the time being...I am riding , swimming and doing a lot on the elliptical!   It will not be long....patience, patience :)

Thanks to the support from my family and close friends.....Love you guys!

Good news from the Dr!

Last weekend was better than the previous 3.....well not really as I would rather be back in AU- but it was better than my last San Diego weekends...why? I get to ride my bike. After 4 days of trainer/spin classes I took a test ride on the road and learned quickly that the challenge is not unclipping with my opposite foot, it was balancing the bike on the road once I unclipped.  So that went okay and I soon learned that twisting my leg in vs out did not bother my injury so I was good to go. 

Friday was a test with 1 hour, Saturday 2 hours and Sunday 3 hours!! Yippee...no gadgets as I don't want to see my unreasonably high HR or my really low  Power, I just wanted to ride.   I figured if I was riding outside and walking about okay it was time to loss the Cam Boot- self diagnosis indeed.  So I began walking about and the leg felt okay it was the ankle- locked up and sore.

I went Rehab United  on Monday for an injury assessment and to get a jump start on my PT. These guys seriously rock.  The screen was nearly an hour and measured my right leg, foot, ankle, hip vs my left in flexibility, strength, balance etc.  It was pathetic...my left leg is always weaker but to see the numbers and especially now- holy cow!   My hip is totally locked up, surely from the 2inch heels cam boot I have been wearing and the flexibility is not good.   Now I have some serious stretches and exercises to begin the road to recovery.   While I am riding (yeah- did I mention how excited I am) and swimming, I was hoping to start running sooner than later.  RU says NO- even if the bone can stand it ( and I had not seen the Ortho yet) the ankle is too weak and I am just asking for trouble.

While I did not expect to run just 4 weeks after...I was hopeful, see if I could run, then Oceanside would be a possibility- a slow one but possible.  RU says not likely to run for 2 more weeks.  And I did see the Ortho and they did an xray- good news is there is a big callous on the bone so the Cam Boot is gone (which by the way is really good- 4 weeks and that thing reeks).  But the Ortho says 3-4 weeks before I will run, again due to the ankle. When I fell I also sprained my ankle and immobilizing the sprain in the boot does not promote healing, the tendons locked up and are still swollen and sore.

So...onward we go and I will figure out my racing season later.   For now, stretching + exercises, PT 2x a week and lots and lots of cycling (every day in fact) so at least my bike fitness will be back soon and my swim is just fine,  When it's time to run, I will be ready!!!